CELEBRATING TRADITION, BEDANS convened in jubilation for San Beda University’s (SBU) institutional celebration of the three-day Pista ng Sto. Niño sa San Beda 2025 under the theme “Sto. Niño de Praga: Gabay ng mga Bedista sa Pangangalaga sa Kalikasan sa Taon ng Hubileo” which spanned from January 24 to 26.
Prof. Christian Bryan S. Bustamante, PhD, the College of Arts and Sciences’ (CAS) Dean and this year’s Hermano Mayor, elucidated the idea behind the theme, saying “Sto. Niño is our guide… as we journey in this jubilee year of hope. And also, as we protect our natural environment.”
To launch off the Sto. Niño sa San Beda, administrators, faculty, staff, and students took part in the community parade around Mendiola street donning different props and wearing colors based on their respective Colleges. CAS wore green; the College of Nursing (CON) wore yellow; white for College of Medicine (COM); red for College of Law (COL); and the Integrated Basic Education (IBED), pink.
Afterwards, Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ma. Maranan, OSB expressed his gratitude on stage to the Bedan community, telling them that “Ang makulay na mga bulaklak at mga berdeng mga dahon, ang mga nagkakantahang mga ibon, at higit sa lahat ang inyong mga napakagandang pagsama at pagtuto na mayroon pang mga ngiti. Ito ay ating pagbibigay pugay sapagkat tayo ay mahal ng Sto. Niño.”
Following this, Rev. Fr. Maranan proceeded to the Pamanang Bedista for the ribbon cutting and to bless the 45th Sto. Niño Exhibit, San Beda Media DOM Studio, and Jubilarian Digital Exhibit. Afterwards, the University held different events in the remainder of the Pista ng Sto. Niño.
(by Veronica A. Balbin and Maegan Balicena)
Humanitarian Day
Coinciding with the activities of the Pista ng Sto. Niño sa San Beda 2025, the University’s Community Engagement Center (CEC), in collaboration with the Social Awareness and Community Involvement Committee (SACI) of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Student Council (SC), celebrated Humanitarian Day last January 24 by showcasing various handmade products from multiple partnered communities.
Setting their inaugural selling, CEC and SACI featured products made from five of their partnered communities, taking in the likes of the Mountain Province, particularly the Saint Bede Mushroom and Vegetable Growers Association in Sitio Pactil, Barangay Monamon Sur, featuring their vegetable produce; Kababaihan ng Sitio San Gabriel who displayed potholders and doormats & yoga mats made out of used clothes; Barangay 412 Women Waste Warriors and their reusable bags and diapers made out of recyclable materials; Rehoboth Children’s Home, Inc. from Tarlac; and the Mangyans of Oriental Mindoro, particularly the Hanunuo Tribe, exhibiting their embroidered handicrafts.
The selling, an annual Pista event by the CEC, now in its third year, was done to provide an avenue to which said partnered communities can advertise and market their handmade products with the hope of “uplifting their livelihood” amid the “uncertainties” brought about by the Philippine economy. And yet, despite this, Ms. Norielyn C. Tabag, RSW, the Director of the CEC, expressed her “concern” regarding the “slow sales,” adding that “sana talaga people will realize the importance sa pag-reuse [and] pag-iwas ng mga single-used products.” Nonetheless, Ms. Tabag also shared her “gratitude” to the “CEC, SC, and CAS student organizations,” for selling the products on behalf of those partnered communities that couldn’t come to San Beda.
According to the CEC Director, the selling would extend beyond the Pista period until supplies last.
(by Gian Marcel Chiu)
PINTA SA PISTA
The CAS-SC spearheaded a painting competition to showcase Bedan creativity and talent titled, “PINTA SA PISTA” with the theme, “Kulay ng Pag-asa: Gabay ni Sto. Nino De Praga sa Pangangalaga ng Kalikasan” along with a collector’s exhibit held at the Ground Floor of the Lydia Tan Sy building that ran from January 24 to 26.
According to Beige Benedict Campbell, SC Second-Year Representative, the event’s theme was in “adherence with the Pista ng Sto. Nino sa San Beda 2025,” by which participants were tasked to create a piece aligned with the theme.
Students were given blank canvases and acrylic paint of different colors. On the other hand, Toy Pops were on display for the collector’s exhibit.
Last January 28, winners were then announced on the SC’s Facebook page. Valentin VI Antonis Pura’s “PAGLAUM Niño” took first place, Myiesha Espinosa from the Integrated Basic Education Department (IBED) won second, and Rochelle Soriano’s “Agos” won third place. Pura’s piece also won the People’s Choice Award.
(by Veronica Balbin)
By Youth, For Youth
Aiming to “empower the youth,” AIESEC-SBU conducted a forum entitled “By Youth, For Youth: The Gen Z in Navigating Tomorrow,” drawing on various insights from key speakers at the Collaboration Room of the CAS Library.
For the first part of the discussion, Harold Burgos, an alumni of SBU and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Go-Helmet Cleaning Vendo and Hardenn Farm & Resort, emphasized the importance of the Youth as “Catalysts of Change” by analyzing problems within the community and gradually building a strong foundation of relationships with other people to “innovate society with a sense of camaraderie.”
Afterwards, Hans Bautista, Executive Director of Inklusibo and an advocate for People’s Rights, initiated a discussion on the “Effective Communication for Solid Transformation,” focusing on how personal advocacies and initiative could bring about meaningful change as a collective.
In an interview, Charles Tusing, the Official Expansion President, reiterated the role of the youth in forwarding broader societal change, saying “What AISEC stands for is really for youth powership, empowerment, and youth leadership. In this sense, this activity is, firstly, to have the idea of the youth or the participant[s] on what we can be—a mover in this society.”
(by Thirdy Pabilico with Jasmine Casadores)
Cineserye
Finding respite beyond their academic routines, the Bedan Scholars’ Guild (BSG) hosted the second installment of their event series, Cineserye: “Recreational Learning Through Films,” as part of the Pista ng Santo Niño celebration, at the Fidel V. Ramos room, CAS Library, January 24.
Spearheaded by Shara Esteba, the Secretary-General of BSG, the event showcased a “selection of Bedan-produced films” highlighting themes of culture, faith, and history, providing an avenue for leisure and bonding among scholars while promoting academic engagement. In an interview, Via Jessica Clerigo, President of BSG, shared that the primary goal of the event was to “create a space for scholars to unwind and connect with one another,” responding to feedback that scholars needed more activities beyond academics.
Incorporating Bedan values, the films included, “Tagpuan,” a Bedan Film Festival winner under the Department of Theology, and “Ligaya,” a project from senior high students disrupted by the pandemic. The event concluded with a viewing of “Nightwood,” a film rendition of a novel by Djuna Barnes, produced by Bedan sophomores in partial fulfilment of their requirements in the subject Great Books.
By aligning the event with the Pista ng Santo Niño, BSG opened the screenings to a wider audience, including friends of scholars and other members of the Bedan community, fostering a deeper connection through shared memories and meaningful stories.
(by Nathaniel Soriano with Prince Tagarino)
Glow as you Grow
The Psychology Society of San Beda University (PSSBU) organized a plant-growing and decorating contest, “Glow as you Grow” that aimed to encourage Bedans to reflect on self-care through plant care that took place on January 24.
The organization provided plants for participants to grow and decorate over the course of a week. The registration for the contest began on January 24, with the deadline for submission of the final plant outcomes being set last February 6. The judging was conducted online. The contest is open not only to Psychology students but to the entire Bedan community, including students from other programs, faculty, and staff.
In an interview with The Bedan, stating the event’s goal, Samantha Gonzales, PSSBU’s Vice President and the Activity Chairperson of the event, said that it was “For [the participants] to reflect on themselves, since parang puro academics nalang, walang ibang activity na ginagawa. So ‘yun po yung naisip naming gawin, as well as parang i-connect sa Laudato Si’ since plant nga ‘yung nire-raise namin.”
Gonzales also emphasized the importance of “personal growth alongside academic pursuits” while incorporating the institution’s Laudato Si’ values. When asked what she hopes participants will take away from the event, she explained, “As much as possible sana ma-take care nila kung paano nila iniingatan ‘yung sarili nila, ganun din nila iingatan ‘yung plant nila.”
Last February 15, PSSBU, through their official Facebook page, announced the winners of the event. Alexandra Mae Santos took first place; Erika Mae Brooks got second; and Rainier Geremy Novales got third.
(by Veronica Balbin with Myrna Ydwina Xialea A. Pelayo)
Taghoy ng Sierra Madre
The Bedistang Alagad ng Sining at Kultura (BASK) opened the curtains on its theater play, “Taghoy ng Sierra Madre,” that depicted the consequences of the construction of the Kaliwa Dam, on January 24 at the Abbot Lopez Hall.
The event starred a group of students, led by actors Ian Zaldua, Joshua Sundungan, Stacey Co, Xryuz Serrano and Sandra Audencial who went on an expedition to the Sierra Madre Mountain range. The focal point of the event found itself in the construction of the Kaliwa Dam and how environmental consciousness is the “catalyst to safeguarding nature.”
Francheska Muñoz, Director and BASK President, explained that the event served as an “eye-opener for Bedistas.” She further emphasized how the issues surrounding the Sierra Madre often go unnoticed, saying “Para ma-realize nila ‘yung situation if ever we let it happen.”
Muñoz, reflecting on the play’s performance, gave it a 10 out of 10, noting that while there were some lapses, the team was able to address them effectively.
(by Paolo Vital with Paris Isaac E. Falcone)
Green League
Adapting to today’s technologically advanced world, the San Beda Sports Science Association (SBSSA) hosted a mobile gaming tournament entitled “Green League: Bedan Eco-gamers” as part of the festivities on the first day of Pista ng Sto. Niño 2025.
After half a day of competing, Team “Hortons,” comprised of students from the Departments of Psychology, Human Kinetics and Sports Management (HKSM), and Marketing Management took First Place. Meanwhile, teams “Tiktok Reels” and “OTOG,” both comprised of HKSM students, won Second and Third, respectively.
First place winners took home a prize of Php3,000. “TikTok Perds” received Php2,000 for their second-place finish, and “sOTOG” was awarded Php1,000 for securing third place. In addition to the top prizes, consolation prizes were also distributed to other participants.
According to Mary Ann Durano, President of SBSSA, “Since we are in the new generation and technologies are very common. It is in our mind [na] marami talagang players na mag lalaro during this generation playing mobiles kaya ayon, napili namin ang e-games.”
(by Mika Isidro with Denver Provido)
Bedan’s Got Talent
Claiming the first and second spots, respectively, Laniqa Aguilar and She Arenga from the CAS stood out in the 12th season of the “Bedans Got Talent,” organized by the College of Nursing (CON) Student Council (SC) at the Abbot Lopez Hall last January 25.
The competition has become one of the highlights of the annual Pista festivities, featuring various student performers from different departments, with even non-teaching personnels exhibiting their wide range of skills and talents within the SBU community.
Contestants from the CAS proved dominant this season, with Laniqa Aguilar, from the Department of Legal Management, taking the top spot with her rendition of Wicked’s Defying Gravity. She Arenga, from the Department of Marketing Management, came second in her performance of Tangled’s I See the Light, while Vitalis Bedance Alliance, a dance group from the CON, secured third place.
In an interview with The Bedan, the Activity Chairperson and CON-SC’s Third-Year Representative, Karis Elleana Carlos, explained the competition’s underlying goal of “highlighting the diverse talents within the student body,” while adding how “we want to show na the Bedan community offers more than just academics. We want to show na hindi lang basta matalino ang mga Bedans, talented din sila.”
Overall, she also expressed her “gratitude” to all the participants of the event. In a separate interview, following her victory, Aguilar shared how she viewed her victory as an “opportunity to widen my career,” while hoping “to inspire many more people” to take risks and pursue their dreams.
(by Gian Marcel Chiu with Ma. Casandria Manao)
Red Light, Green Light
Promoting “safer driving,” the San Beda Junior Marketing Association (SBJMA) facilitated a seminar entitled, “Red Light, Green Light: The BediSMART Way to Safe Driving” on January 25, at the Collaboration Room of the CAS Library.
The seminar aimed to reinforce “safe, responsible, and smarter” driving practices as part of the institutional Pista ng Sto. Niño celebration. Additionally, it was organized as part of the activities of the annual motor show hosted by the Bedan Business Spectrum (BBS).
The keynote speaker of the event, Mr. Alvin Dela Cruz, Assistant Head of Research and Development at Smart Driving School, carried out the seminar by educating the students about road signages, possible violations, and rules and regulations stemming from the event’s purposes and goals.
Asst. Prof. Gregorio G. Borja, MBA, CPE, Chairperson of the Department of Marketing Management and SBJMA Moderator, stressed that “part of what we do here in San Beda is to actually enliven the [Sustainable Development Goals] (SDGs), which is SDG 11, living in sustainable communities and cities. And I believe this is very essential kasi kayo, of course, lalo na ‘yung magagraduate na, you are going to be part of the workforce already.”
(by Rcee Tenefrancia with Samantha Calderon)
Clean-up Drive
The Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) and San Beda Employees Association (SBEA) joined hands with the Kapisanang Agham ng San Beda (KASB) and Bedan Advocacy and Consciousness Society (BACES) for a clean-up drive, “Linis Kapaligiran, Alay kay Sto. Niño” along Mendiola sidewalk on January 25.
This annual event is in its third consecutive year, organized and carried out by the HRMO during the institutional Pista ng Sto. Niño celebration.
Leading the student-arm in the event is Alvin Sebastian “Basti” Mangaliag who told The Bedan that this year’s clean-up drive involved a collaboration with non-professional organizations of the CAS through BACES.
According to him, “as a student arm of this project…we want to inspire other students to learn proper segregation so that hindi rin makadagdag pa sa environment.”
(by Veronica A. Balbin with Paris Isaac Falcone)
BEDAFit: Palarong Pinoy at Salo-salo
The Human Resource Management Office (HRMO), together with SBEA, conducted the “BEDAFit: Palarong Pinoy at Salo-salo” at the RC Gym.
The event, attended by members of the support services and other non-teaching personnel of San Beda University (SBU) began with a lively Zumba session focused on promoting the health and fitness of employees.
Following this, SBU staff focused their attention on a series of team-building games inspired by “Palarong Pinoy” activities.
The day’s festivities concluded with a feast at the same venue, fostering camaraderie on the third and final day of the celebration of Pista ng Santo Nino.
(by Thirdy Pabilico with Lawrence Rosales)